Two pending cases of non issuance of Presidential Order for absorption in BSNL to the left out officials was discussed with Ms. Annie Moraes, Member (Finance), DoT on 28-06-2016. Com. V. A. N. Namboodiri, Advisor and Com. K. G. Jayaraj, General Secretary pointed out that the cases of Shri.N.C.Kinake, Senior Accountant (Retd), Bhandara, Maharashtra and Shri. V.Moorthy, Telecom Mechanic (Retd), Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu are pending unsettled for a long time and wanted early settlement. The Member (Finance) responded positively and assured to do the needful.

Com. V. A. N. Namboodiri, Advisor, and Com.K.G. Jayaraj, General Secretary has met Ms. Madhu Arora, G.M (Establishment)  on 28th June, 2016 and discussed the issue of denial of one extra increment in lieu of Gr.IV promotion. The meeting was in continuation of the discussion they had with her on 24th inst and as required by her a detailed letter also was given today. The representatives requested her to reconsider the issue as it was a grave injustice to the senior most officials to deny them the one extra increment on the plea that they are in the restructured cadres. The GM agreed to examine the issue. <<view letter>>

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLCCWF & Advisor, AIBDPA and Com. K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA met Shri Arvind Bajaj, GM(QA) and discussed about the issues of contract workers in QA(Kolkata). They requested the GM not to proceed with the proposal to retrench the 5 contract workers. They pointed out that the workers are having about 10-15 years of service and should be retained. The GM was non-committal, but agreed to look in to the matter.

The representatives also brought to his notice of the GM about the inordinate delay in settlement of the medical claims of the BSNL pensioners attached to QA, Kolkata on which the pensioners were compelled to resort to agitation. The GM replied that he has taken care to deal the claims promptly and are sent to the CGMT at Jabalpur for approval and payment.

Many pensioners are very much in anxiety as to when the central Cabinet would take up the issue of 78.2% IDA merger to BSNL pensioners retired before 10-06-2013. And nobody can blame them as they are waiting to get this benefit for the last three years. As already reported the final cabinet note was sent by DoT to the Cabinet Secretariat on 17-06-2016. The central cabinet meetings are held on every Wednesdays and issues are listed according to priority fixed by the government. Last Wednesday, ie 22-06-2016 it was not listed and not taken up presumably because of the discussion and decision on the ensuing spectrum auction. Tomorrow, 29th June, 2016 is another Wednesday and it is widely reported in the press that the cabinet may take up the implementation of 7th Pay Commission recommendations on tomorrow which warrants early decision as the central government employees are going on an indefinite strike from 11-07-2016

CHQ has made an attempt to get our issue listed at the earliest through Shri Nripendrah Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. Still let us not get disappointed even if it is not taken up tomorrow. Let us be optimistic that we will definitely achieve it sooner or later.

The second Annual Branch Conference was held on 19-06-2016 at Telecom Recreation Club. Coms. Ashis Mukherjee and Ajit Bose controlled the proceedings. Com. Ajit Nandan, Asst Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference. Coms. Amritlal Mondal, Madan Mohan Ghosh, Santhosh Goswami and Nirmal Chatterjee addressed. Reports and accounts were adopted after discussion.

Coms. Ashis Mukherjee, Ajit Bose and Tapan Biswas were elected unanimously as President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively. 

Extended Circle CEC meeting held on 22.6.2016 successfully at CTO Union room, Kolkata. After flag hoisting and garlanding martyr’s column the open session commenced. Com. Ananta Bhattacherjee President CHQ inaugurated the meeting. Com. Biplab Das GS BSNLCC WB spoke at inaugural session. On completion of open session Com Susanta Ghosh CS and Com PK Nandi Treasurer placed the work paper and accounts respectively. The following District Secretaries/ District representatives took part in the deliberations. Comrades Prabir Ghosh(Jalpaiguri), Lalu Rai(Gangtok), RK Yadav(Siliguri), Nirmal Dey(Malda), Madan Ghosh(Suri), Manoranjan Ghosh(Berhampur), Ashoke Banerjee(Krishnanagar), Ajit Nandan and PK Ghosh(Kolkata), SP Roy(Bardhaman), Dhananjay Ganguly(Durgapur), Mridul Chatterjee(Asansol), Ganesh Gupta(Purulia), DK Lai(Bankura) and Anupam Saha(Kharagpur). Speakers highlighted on organisational aspect such as regular meetings, participation in programmes, increasing of membership and Tele Pensioners subscribers. In the wake of lot of complains for non receipt of the journal it was decoded that a letter pertaining the list of non receipt will be sent to CHQ for sending the journals in the name of  the respective District Secretary, collection of outstanding on subscriptions and donations, Delayed or non-payment of Medical bills and absence of empanelled hospitals/N.Hs and post poll situation in West Bengal. Com Pijush Chakraborty ACS summed up.

It waanisations and 2nd September 2016 strike call given by the CTUs and National Federations were adopted. Com Susanta Ghosh CS delivered the valedictory speech. Com Dipak Mitra Circle President conducted the proceedingss decided in the meeting that each district will render effort to 1) increase the membership and Tele Pensioner subscribers, 2) outstanding on subscription and yearly donation to be cleared, 3) to collect money for organisational fund of BSNLCC and Pensioners Yuktamancha through Coupons and 4) to take part in the programme for restoration of democracy in West Bengal.

Three resolutions on retrenchment of contractual labours of Kolkata QA, indefinite strike from 11th July 2016 by CG org.Extended Circle CEC meeting held on 22.6.16 successfully The above meeting was held on 22.6.16 at CTO Union room. After flag hoisting and garlanding martyr’s column the open session commenced. Com. Ananta Bhattacherjee President CHQ inaugurated the meeting. Com. Biplab Das GS BSNLCC WB spoke at inaugural session. On completion of open session Com Susanta Ghosh CS and Com PK Nandi Treasurer placed the work paper and accounts respectively. The following District Secretaries/ District representatives took part in the deliberations. Comrades Prabir Ghosh(Jalpaiguri), Lalu Rai(Gangtok), RK Yadav(Siliguri), Nirmal Dey(Malda), Madan Ghosh(Suri), Manoranjan Ghosh(Berhampur), Ashoke Banerjee(Krishnanagar), Ajit Nandan and PK Ghosh(Kolkata), SP Roy(Bardhaman), Dhananjay Ganguly(Durgapur), Mridul Chatterjee(Asansol), Ganesh Gupta(Purulia), DK Lai(Bankura) and Anupam Saha(Kharagpur). Speakers highlighted on organisational aspect such as regular meetings, participation in programmes, increasing of membership and Tele Pensioners subscribers (lot of complains are there for non receipt of the journal. It was decoded that a letter pertaining the list of non receipt will be sent to CHQ for sending the journals in the name of District Secretary), collection of outstanding on subscriptions and donations, Delayed or non-payment of Medical bills and absence of empanelled hospitals/N.Hs and post poll situation in West Bengal. Com Pijush Chakraborty ACS summed up. It was decided in the meeting that each district will render effort to 1) increase the membership and Tele Pensioner subscribers, 2) outstanding on subscription and yearly donation to be cleared, 3) to collect money for organisational fund of BSNLCC and Pensioners Yuktamancha through Coupons and 4) to take part in the programme for restoration of democracy in West Bengal. Three resolutions on retrenchment of contractual labours of Kolkata QA, indefinite strike from 11th July 2016 by CG organisations and 2nd September 2016 strike call given by the CTUs and National Federations were adopted. Com Susanta Ghosh CS delivered the valedictory speech. Com Dipak Mitra Circle President conducted the proceedings.

The National Secretariat meeting of NCCPA held today, 27th June, 2016 at AIRF office, New Delhi has called upon the pensioners through out the country to organise Mass Dharna on  11-07-2016 in support of the indefinite strike of central government employees and for the pensioners issues.

Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra , Chairman, NCCPA presided over the meeting. In his opening remarks he detailed the discussion NJCM leaders had with the Cabinet Secretary on modifications sought about the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. The government has not come out with its decision and hence the NJCA is going ahead with serious preparations of the indefinite strike. We have to support the strike and should have a solidarity action. Com. K. K. N. Kutty, Secretary General also briefed the developments in connection with the strike issues. As far as pensioners issues are concerned,we have demanded pension parity with necessary modification of the pay commission’s recommendations. But the government has taken a stand that even the recommendation of the Pay Commission is not possible to implement.

Thereafter serious discussion took place and the important office bearers including Com. V. A. N. Namboodiri, Patron, NCCPA and Advisor, AIBDPA and Com. K. G. Jayaraj, Assistant Secretary General, NCCPA & General Secretary, AIBDPA participated. After the discussion the Secretariat decided to support fully the strike and organise country wide Mass Dharna by pensioners on 11-07-2016 demanding the pensioners issues also including pension parity.

AIBDPA units are requested to take initiative for the successful implementation of the decision with maximum participation of AIBDPA members.

There are complaints of inordinate delay in payment of medical bills to BSNL pensioners in most of the circles and our CHQ has taken up the issue with the BSNL Corporate office after which the corporate office issued certain guidelines. But still complaints are reported from certain circles and one such circle is NTR.   CHQ had already written a letter to the then CGMT, Shri. P. K. Goel in September, 2015. As there was no much progress, today, the 24th June, 2016, Com. V. A. N. Namboodiri, Advisor, K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary and Com.R.S.Chauhan, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, NTR met Shri.V.K.Chopra, CGMT, NTR and discussed the issue in detail. The representatives pointed out the difficulties being faced by the BSNL pensioners due to inordinate delay in payment of medical bills and wanted to have a systematic process to register the medical bills and payment according to that priority.  The CGMT responded very positively and assured that whatever is possible at his end will be done to mitigate the hardships of the pensioners. He also said that now the medical reimbursement also has been made through ERP and the pensioners need not come to the office to submit the bill and can register on line. The delegation replied that only a minority of pensioners will be having net facilities. The particular case of Com.M.L.Tiwari was noted for immediate action by the CGMT.